Tiltable seat



March Z, 1943. -A. RUEGGER .TIKLTABLE SEAT Filed sept. '5, 195s 2 Sheets-Sheet l NvEN-ron. ANDR s Rue G5152,

ATTO. HEY

March-2, 1943. A.RUEGGER 2,313,023

1 TILTABLE SEAT v I Filed sept. 5, w58;L 'l 2 sheets-sheet 2 \NvE.N-roQ. ANDR Rusa-6&2,

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plying the principle of the' invention.

Patented Mar. 2, 1943 TILTABLE SEAT Andr Rueggel' Levallois-Perret, France; vested in the Alien Property Custodian Application September 3, 1938, Serial No. 228,364 In France September 7, 1937 6 Claims.

It is known that it may be pleasant to modify the slope of any seat at will.

In the case of avehicle seat, the possibility of making the slope of the seat variable, furthermore has a very great physiological advantage owing to the fact that the organs and the muscles of the body can receive, at different angles and in Several positions of equilibrium, the various impulses which are imparted to them by the vehicle. This produces an impression of relaxation on the occupant of the seat in question.

Several devices have been constructed for this purpose, but they have the drawback of operating by raising either the front, or the rear of the seat. -These movements result in the arc of a circle described in particular by the head of the occupant of the seat and by certain of his joints (elbow, shoulder, knee) about the pivot point, producing' movements that are inconvenient either for the angle and the height of thelline of sight (height of the eye) or for the respective positions of the arms, the shoulders, the legs relatively to the various control members (steering wheel, joy-stick, levers, pedals, rudder, etc.), of the vehicle.- Y

The purpose of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks.

The invention has for its object a seat in which the pivotal axis is no longer located on a level with its base, but on a line adjacent the centre of gravity of the occupant of the seat. In this manner, whatever be the position occupied by the seat as a result of a tilting movement, the centre of gravity oi' the human body is always located substantially at the same distance from the bearing or supporting members, which distance is represented by the radii of the curve which moves over said bearing members or which is described by the supporting members.

Another advantage of this arrangement consists in the fact that it enables the seat to be readily moved between each of its positions, the equilibrium of the body being maintained nearly constant relatively to the pivotal axis.

The invention provides a seat to which these principles are applied, which is furthermore characterized by a very rational construction and which includes means which enable the seat to be held stationary in the positions in which it is adjusted to suit the person who is occupying it.

The invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagram explaining a method of, ap-

Fig. 2 is likewise a diagram explaining another embodiment of the same principle.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a Aseat in its position which enables the person who is occupying it to sit normally.

Fig. 4 is a similar side elevation showing this same seat tilted backwards.

Fig. 5 is a partial transverse sectional elevation taken substantially along the line V-V of Figs. 3 and'4, looking in the direction of the arrows. "i l Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a seat according to a modification. j

Fig. 7 is a side elevation showing another modication.

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation along the line III- III of Fig. '7.

According to the diagram of Fig. 1, the seat A has a, lower part B-C which coincides with an arc of a circle of which the radius is r and which has its centre at the point O (this point may be chosen and located at any desired spot in order to fuliill the condition of being adjacent the centre of gravity of the occupant) and which can roll on two rollers G and G' which are tangential to the arc of a circle.

The axles of said rollers are secured to a frame which can accessorily slide, relatively to the floor on which the seat is mounted, in the direction shown by the arrows or in the opposite direction, for example in appropriate slide-Ways. Two locking devices are provided, one of which locks the arc-shaped element B-C at any point of its rolling movement, on the rollers G, G and the other locks the frame which supports the rollers, at any point of the rslidefway.

The diagram of Fig. 2 illustrates. a second pos'- sibility of, applying the principle of the invention. En this case, the seat A is suspended by arms B, C in such'a ,manner as to Fswing about the pivot O which -is secured to the support 3 fixed to the door, with or without the interposition of a slide- I. way. The pivot O is located at a point that is chosen and calculated as in the previous example, that is to say adjacent the centre of gravity of the occupant of the seat.

The seat according to the exemplary embodiment of Figs. 3 to\5 comprises two side frames I, for example made of metal tube,.which are connected together by cross-pieces to form a rigid frame. According to the invention, the curvatPre of the lower part 2 of these side frame elements is described about the centre O which substantially coincides with the centre of gravity of the body 0f -the Occupant of the seat. Said side frames are mounted at the rear on a roller 3 which is rotatably mounted on lugs 4 which extend upwards from the floor or from the base that is placed on the iioor. At the front, the lower part of said frames bears on supporting rollers 5 which are likewise mounted on lugs 6 extending upwards from the base, from the floor or from a carriage which can slide in the desired direction in slide-ways which are fixed to the floor. The axle 'I which carries said rollers 5 also supports jaws 8 which are pivoted about said axle and each carry at their upper part a guide roller I0 mounted on an axle 8. The rollers 3, 5 and I0 may be shaped at their periphery so as to have a groove which fits over the tube 2 of the frame. 'I'he `laws 8 are pivoted about the axle 1, which enables them to perform an angular movement corresponding to the tilting movement of the tube of the seat.

Furthermore, the tube 2 is provided, at its underside, with notches or recesses II in which engage the claw I2 of a locking latch I3 which is secured to the axle l. This latter terminates at its outer part by a knob I4 which enables it to be rotated to release the claw I2 of the latch I3 from the notch II in which it is placed, in order to change the position of the arm-chair by imparting to it a rolling movement on the rollers 3 and 5, the roller I0 forming with the jaws 8 a retaining `member which prevents the tubes or other elements of the frame of the arm-chair from being lifted off the front bearing rollers 6.

In order to change from the upright sitting position of Fig. 3 to the backwardly inclined position of Fig. 4, it suffices to release the claw I2 of the latch I3 from the notch it occupies by operating the knob or lever I4, optionally against the action of a retracting spring which tends tofurge the claw I2 of the latch I3 into the `notches II, then to push the arm-chair forwards for example by acting on the back, causing it to roll on the rollers 3 and 5. When the passenger has brought his arm-chair into the position he wishes, it suffices for him to let go the knob I4. The latter brings back the claw I2 of the latch I3 into one of the notches, either by forming a counterweight, or under the action of the above mentioned retracting spring. Whatever be the position chosen by the passenger, his arm-chair is thus xedly secured on the supporting base by means of the locking device described, on the one hand and to the guide rollers I0 on the other hand. 'I'he pivoting of the guide rollers I8 by means of the pivoted jaws 8 enables said rollers to take up in each case the suitable relative position with respect position of the seat, the gravity of the body of the person who occupies it is directed towards the centre of the base which is at an equal distance from the four bearing rollers (two rear rollers 3 and two front rollers 5).

This invariable direction of the gravity of the human body ensures perfect seating and stability for the person who is occupying the seat, whatever be his position and this is an extremely useful result in vehicles, since it enables the passengers to place their seats in various positions to Arelax themselves, while retaining the same stability in all the positions.

As in the embodiment of Figs. 3-5, in the modifications of Figs. 6 to 8 the seat, isprovided with side frames I made of metal tube which are connected together by 'cross-pieces to form a frame and the curvature of the lower part 2 of said side frame-elements is preferably described about the centre O which substantially coincides wards on `the floor, whereas the sliding of the 4 metal strip I1 in the slide-'way I8e'nables the seat to be adjusted by swinging it about the centre O. The metal strip I I and the slide-way I8 have of course the same curvature as the lower part lofthe frame made of metal tube.

In Fig. 6, only sections of a slide-way I 8, I 8' lamused, whereas in the modification of Fig. 7,

the slide-way I8 is continuous.

In order to lock the seat in its positions of adjustment, locking devices are associated with the two sliding systems. For example, a pawl 20 having a lever 2I and pivoted about a pin 22 which is secured to the carriage sliding on the to the bearing rollers 5 for'holding the armarrange one of the levers or both the levers for chair and preventing any untimely lifting of the front of said arm-chair. The base can be made in the shape of a carriage which slides in the direction of the arrows (Fig. 3) by means of l rollers or slides I5, |51 in a slide-way I6 enrbedded in the iloor, which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Owing to the above described curvature of the lower `elements 2 of the frame 4 of the arm-chair, the centre of gravity is always equidistant from the two bearing rollers 5 and A through the middle of the distance between the rollers 3 and 5, that is to say whatever be the floor, can engage in notches provided in the slide-way and lock the sliding assembly relatively to said slide-way. On the other hand, a .latch 23 having a lever 24 is adapted to engage with notches 25 formed in the slide-Way I8 and to lock the tube 2 and its metal strip I 'I relatively to said slideway I8.

These locking devices are moreover only shown by way of example and may be replaced by any appropriate locking means.

However, it is particularly advantageous to controlling the locking members on the side of the seat, preferably within reach of the person seated, so as to enable him to adjust his seat as he Wishes without getting up. The invention therefore covers this advantageous novel feature.

Although the invention has been described in the preferred embodiment in which the frame is formed by elements made of metal tube, it is obvious that the seat may also be constructed with other materials without exceeding the scope of the invention. Similarly, the constructional details such as tlie device for locking or holding the seat stationary, the system for mounting the bearing rollers and even the pivoted jaw device only form individual features and the principle of the invention can be applied with equivalent elements.

the centre of curvature of which substantiallyl coincides with the centre of gravity of the body of the person seated in the seat, a base fixed to the oor, two rollers rotatably mounted on ea'ch side of this base in lugs extending upwards from said base and supporting said curved elements, a guide roller rotatably mounted on each side in jaws which are pivoted on the axle of the front rollers in such a manner as to hold the lower curved elements of the seat on the top in variable positions according to the position of said curved elements.

2. Tiltable seat comprising curved' elements the centre of curvature of which vsubstantially coincides with the centre of gravity of the body of the person seated in the seat, a base xed to the iloor, two rollers rotatably mounted on each side of this base in lugs extending upwards from said base and supporting said curved elements, a. guide roller rotatably mounted on each side in jaws which are pivoted on the axle of the front rollers in such a manner as to hold the lower curved elements of the seat on the top in variavble positions according to the position of said curved elements, stop members provided on said curved elements, a locking device mounted on the base and engaging said stop members.

3. Tiltable seat comprising curved elements the centre of curvature of which substantially coincides with the centre of gravity of the body ci the person seated in the seat, a base fixed to the noor, two rollers rotatably mounted on each side of this base in lugs extending upwards from said base and supporting said curved elements, a guide roller rotatably mounted on each side in jaws which are pivoted on the axle of the front rollers in such a manner as to hold the lower curved elements of the seat on the top in variable positions according to the position of said curved elements, notches provided in one of the 'said base' and supporting said curved elements,

a gui roller rotatably mounted on each side in ja s which are pivoted on the axle of the front rollers in such a manner as to hold the lower curved elements of the seat: on the top in variable positions according to the position of said curved elements, notches provided in one of the curved lower elements, a latch secured to the axle of the front roller and engaging said notches, a. lever arm secured to the axle of the front roller, an operating knob to the end of this lever arm and serving as a counterweight for urging the point of said latch into engagement with one of the said stop notches.

5. 'Iiltable seat comprising curved elements the centre of curvature of which substantially coincides with the centre of gravity of the body of the person seated in the seat. av base xed to the door, two rollers rotatbaly mounted on each side of this base in lugs extending upwards from said base and supporting said curved elements, a

curved lower elements, a latch secured to the axle of the front roller and engaging said notches.

4. Tlltable seat comprising curved elements the centre of curvature of which substantially coincides with the centre of gravity of the body of the persongseated in the seat, a base. ilxed to the ioor, two rollers rotatably mounted on each side of this base in lugs extending upwards from guide roller rotatably mounted on each side in jaws which are pivoted on the axle of the front rollers in such a manner as to hold the lower curved elements of the seat on the top in variable positions according to the position of said curved elements, notches provided in one of the curved lower elements, a latch secured to the axle of the front roller and engaging said notches, a lever arm secured to the axle of the front roller, an operating knob tothe end of this lever arm, a retracting spring tending to urgethe latch into engagement with the said stop notches.

6. Tiltable seat comprising a frame formed by metal tubes having curved Velements the centre of curvature of which substantially coincides with the centre of gravity of the body of the person seated in the seatTabase fixed to the oor. two rollers rotatably mounted'on-each said side of this base in lugs extending upwards `from base, said rollers being providednwith grooves which t accurately over said tube and supporting said curved elements. a guide roller also provided with a groove and rotatably mounted on each side in jaws which are pivotedon the axle of the front rollers in such a manner as to hold the lower curved elements of the seat on the top in variable positions.notches provided-1n one of the curved lower elements, a latch secured to'the axle of the front roller and engaging said notches, a lever arm secured to the axle of the ANDR RUEGGER. 

